Adjustable sliding door hanger assembly



Aug. 4, 1964 c. R. SUSKA 3,142,859

ADJUSTABLE sunmc DOOR HANGER ASSEMBLY Filed May 2. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2 [-76.3

INVENTOR. CHARLES R. SUSKA BYWWWMW ATTORNEYS 4, 1964 c. R. s'usKA 3,142,859

ADJUSTABLE SLIDING DOOR HANGER ASSEMBLY Filed May 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4 6

46 7a 54 -4O ,4 35 a 70 INVENTOR. CHARLES R. SUSKA WM? Mam/W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,142,859 ADJUSTABLE SLIDHNG DOOR HANGER ASSEMBLY Charles R. Suska, Roxbury, Conn, assignor to The Stanley Works, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed May 2, 1962, Ser. No. 191,873 4 Claims. (Cl. 16-105) This invention broadly relates to mountings for doors or panels of the type that are generally supported for horizontal movement on an associated track or the like, and more particularly, this invention is concerned with an improved adjustable hanger assembly for supporting such doors or panels for rolling or sliding movement on their associated tracks.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved adjustable door hanger assembly of the type referred to that will permit the vertical position of the door or panel to be conveniently adjusted subsequent to installation with ease and a minimum of manual effort and without the necessity of relocating the assembly parts. Included in this object is the provision of such an improved door hanger assembly that is adjustable over a wide range in a simple hand operation without special adjusting tools and that is provided with a means for locking the assembly in desired adjusted position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved adjustable door hangar assembly that will accomplish the above objects while possessing a simple, compact and durable construction of enhanced appearance that is economical to manufacture, easy to install and that will operate effectively over long periods of use.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a sliding door hanger assembly embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the sliding door hanger assembly with a door and track in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a side-elevational view of the hanger assembly mounted to a sliding door or panel (the latter being broken away) and showing an adjusted position in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hanger assembly shown locked in adjusted position; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a mounting bracket included in the hanger assembly.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a hanger assembly embodying the present invention and basically comprised of a mounting bracket 4, a hanger strap 6, a cam member 8 and a cooperable combination cam follower and locking screw 10.

In the specific embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the mounting bracket 4 is formed as a generally elliptical plate having a generally straight upper edge 12 adapted to be disposed along the upper edge of the door 18 and having projecting from opposite ends thereof a pair of tabs or ears 14 which are adapted to engage the top surface of the door 18 as shown in FIG. 3 to thereby locate the desired vertical position of the mounting bracket on the door 18. The mounting bracket 4 includes a peripheral flange portion 20 that is engageable with the door face 22 and provided with apertures 24,

3,142,859 Patented Aug. 4., 1964 respectively, though each end thereof for receiving mounting screws 26 by means of which the bracket is fixed to the door. A pair of vertically extending reinforcing ribs 25 may be provided at opposite ends of the bracket base 20 to impart dimensional stability to the bracket 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, projecting from the front of the bracket 4 generally centrally thereof there is a boss 30 having a generally circular configuration and compris' ing a fiat wall 32 extending parallel to the flange portion 20 and a peripheral wall 34 which is notched at 35. The boss 30 is provided with a center hole 38 and an elongated aperture 40 extending vertically above but spaced from the center hole 38, the function of the apertures 38 and 46 being described in detail hereinafter. Also disposed outwardly from the bracket 4 is a guide strip 44 spaced above the boss 30 and separated by an arcuate slot 46 in the bracket 4. The guide strip 44 is generally U-shaped in cross section being offset forwardly of the bracket 4 by the connecting end walls 48, and for a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the hanger strap. The notch 35 in the boss 30 and guide strip 44 form guideways for slidably receiving and guiding the strap 6 as will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

The strap 6 of the hanger assembly comprises a lower portion 54 and an upper portion 56 offset by a step portion 58. The upper portion 56 has a bearing means shown as a roller 60 mounted on the upper portion through means of a rivet axle 62, which roller is adapted to be slidably received in an overhead track 50 or the like as shown in phantom in FIG 2. However, other bearing means such as, for example, a shoe, may be employed not only where the doors are overhead supported but also where the doors are supported at their base. The lower portion 54 of the strap is dimensioned to permit it to be received for guided reciprocal movement in the guideways formed by the notch 35 in the boss 30 and the guide strip 44. In order to maintain the strap '6 spaced from the inner surface of wall 32 of the boss 30 and insure smooth and guided reciprocation of the strap 6 as well as proper positioning thereof, a pair of raised dimples 68 are provided on the bracket-contacting surface of the lower arm portion 54 adjacent the lower edge thereof as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The lower arm portion 54 is provided with a threaded aperture 70 and an elongated slot 72 opening into the lower extremity of arm 54, the aperture 70 and slot 72 being positioned to be in constant registry with apertures 40' and 38, respectively, of the bracket 4 when the hanger is assembled and in operation. The mounting bracket 4 and the hanger strap 6 (excluding the roller 60) are each preferably formed as sheet metal stampings although other suitable materials and methods of manufacture may be employed without departure from the scope of the invention.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cam member 8 comprises a generally flat circular center portion 76 and a peripheral inwardly extending lip 78 so that the cam member 8 may be rotatably seated on the boss 30 of the mounting bracket 4. At the center of the cam member 8 there is provided a hub 86 adapted to be journaled in the center hole 38 for rotational movement, the hub 80 being accommodated by the slot 72 in the strap 6. A spiral-shaped cam slot 81 is formed in the center portion 76 and the edges thereof are recessed as indicated at 86. The cam member 8 is preferably molded as a unitary structure from plastic or other suitable material, and a plurality of serrations 88 are formed on the peripheral surface of the cam member so as to facilitate manipulation thereof during adjustment of the hanger assembly.

The combination cam follower and locking screw 10 comprises a threaded end portion 99 adapted to be threadedly received in strap aperture 70; a shank portion 92 extending through the cam slot 81; and an enlarged cap or head portion 96 that is engageable with the surface 86 at the periphery of the cam slot 81 for locking the hanger assembly in any desired adjusted position.

Adjustment of the hanger assembly so as to adjust the vertical position of the door upon installation thereof is a simple and convenient manual operation that does not require the bracket mounting screws 26 to be disturbed or re-positioned. Assuming the bracket 4 has been attached to the door and the roller 60 of the strap 6 is engaged in the track, the locking screw 10 is first backed-E sufliciently to unlock or release the cam member 8 which thereupon may be rotated clockwise to cam the screw 10 vertically upwardly or counterclockwise to cam the screw 10 vertically downwardly thereby transmitting vertical movement to the strap 6 causing the door to be raised or lowered into the desired adjusted position. Because of the relatively large diameter of the cam member 8 and its readily accessible knurled edge surface 88, the operator may readily grasp the cam member 8 manually and by turning it obtain the precise adjusted position desired. The locking screw 10 is then tightened until the cap 96 tightly engages the indented locking surface 86 which borders the cam slot 81 whereby the hanger assembly is effectively locked in its adjusted position as shown in FIG. 4. Added locking action is provided by the upper portion of the cam member lip 78 which tightly contacts the hanger strap 6 when the locking screw is tightened as shown in FIG. 4.

Additionally, the hanger assembly parts are so constructed such that when the assembly is locked in the desired adjusted position the door load will be distributed to the cam member portion that contacts the locking screw 10 as well as to the hub 80 and peripheral lip 78 thereby avoiding stress concentration.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the hanger bracket, generally designated 96, wherein a single tab or flange 93 projecting from the top of the bracket is utilized to engage the top of the door to thereby locate the vertical position of the mounting bracket on the door. In this embodiment the screw-receiving apertures 97 are provided in the tab 98 so as to permit the screws to be threaded through the top of the door, whereby the screws are concealed from view to enhance the bracket appearance.

Additionally, in the FIG. 5 embodiment, the peripheral wall 100 of the boss 102 is notched in a manner so as to provide a guide edge 104 for additionally guiding and positioning the hanger strap.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hanger assembly for supporting a door for movement on a track or the like comprising a hanger strap having bearing means at one end adapted to be received in the track, a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to one face of the door, said mounting bracket having a boss projecting from the face thereof and means forming a guideway for the hanger strap, said strap being received in said guideway for guided vertical reciprocal movement, a cam member rotatably mounted on said boss for rotatable movement about its center and having a cam slot therethrough, and a combination cam follower and locking screw threadedly connected to the strap and extending into the cam slot, said :boss being apertured to accommodate the cam follower and locking screw and the cam slot being formed with portions at varying radial distances from the center of the cam member so that rotation of the camming member causes the cam follower and locking screw to be cammed in a vertical direction by the cam slot to adjust the vertical position of the strap and the door supported thereby and said screw having an enlarged portion engageable with the surface of the cam member adjacent the cam slot to lock the assembly in adjusted position.

2. A hanger assembly for supporting a door for movement on a track or the like comprising a hanger strap having bearing means at one end adapted to be received in the track, a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to one face of the door, said mounting bracket having a boss projecting from the face thereof and means forming a guideway for the hanger strap, said strap being received in said guideway for guided vertical reciprocal movement, a cam member having a generally circular center portion seated on the boss and a hub journaling the cam member in the boss for rotation, said cam memher having a spiral cam slot in the center portion thereof, a combination cam follower and locking screw threaded in the strap and extending into the spiral cam slot, said boss being apertured to accommodate the cam follower screw, the spiral cam slot being dimensioned so that rotation of said cam member causes the cam follower screw to be cammed in a vertical direction by the spiral cam slot to adjust the vertical position of the strap and the door supported thereby and said screw having an enlarged portion engageable with the surface of the cam member adjacent the cam slot to lock the assembly in adjusted position.

3. A hanger assembly for supporting a door for movement on a track comprising a hanger strap having bearing means at one end adapted to be received in the track, a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to one face of the door, said mounting bracket having a boss projecting from the face thereof, said boss having a notch in the peripheral wall thereof, said mounting bracket having a guide strip offset from the face thereof and spaced vertically above the notch in the boss by a slot in the bracket member, said notch and guide strip forming a guideway for the hanger strap, said strap being received in said guideway for guided vertical reciprocal movement, a cam member having a generally circular center portion seated on the boss and a hub journaling the cam member in the boss for rotation, said cam member having a spiral cam slot in the center portion thereof and a peripheral inwardly extending lip engaged on the peripheral wall of the boss with a portion of the lip received through the slot in the bracket member and engageable with the hanger, a combination cam follower and locking screw threaded in the strap and extending into the spiral cam slot, said boss being apertured to accommodate the cam follower screw, the spiral cam slot being dimensioned so that rotation of said cam member causes the cam follower screw to be cammed in a vertical direction by the spiral cam slot to adjust the vertical position of the strap and the door supported thereby and said screw having an en larged portion engageable with the surface of the cam member adjacent the cam slot to lock the assembly in adjusted position with said portion of the lip engaged against the hanger.

4. A hanger assembly for supporting a door for movement on a track or the like comprising a hanger strap having bearing means at one end adapted to be received in the track and a plurality of raised dimples adjacent the other end, a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to one face of the door and having tab means projecting from its upper end adapted to engage the top of the door, said mounting bracket having a boss projecting from the face thereof, said boss having a notch in the peripheral wall thereof, said mounting bracket having a guide strip offset from the face thereof and spaced vertically above the notch in the boss, said notch and guide strip forming a guideway for the hanger strap, said strap being received in said guideway with the dimples contacting the boss for guided vertical reciprocal movement, a cam member having a generally circular center portion seated on the boss and a hub journaling the cam member in the boss for rotation, said cam member having a spiral cam slot in the center portion thereof, a combination cam follower and locking screw threaded in the strap and extending into the spiral cam slot, said boss being apertured to accommodate the cam follower screw, the spiral cam slot being dimensioned so that rotation of said cam member causes the cam follower screw to be carnmed in a vertical direction by the spiral cam slot to adjust the vertical position of the strap and the door supported thereby and said screw having an enlarged cap engageable with the surface of the cam member adjacent the cam slot to lock the assembly in adjusted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,246 Majcske Sept. 25, 1962 2,775,782 Boiu Jan. 1, 1957 2,999,267 Sterling et. al Sept. 12, 1961 3,030,060 Breuer Apr. 17, 1962 3,041,657 McNinch July 3, 1962 3,058,173 Brydolf Oct. 16, 1962 

1. A HANGER ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING A DOOR FOR MOVEMENT ON A TRACK OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A HANGER STRAP HAVING BEARING MEANS AT ONE END ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED IN THE TRACK, A MOUNTING BRACKET ADAPTED TO BE FIXED TO ONE FACE OF THE DOOR, SAID MOUNTING BRACKET HAVING A BOSS PROJECTING FROM THE FACE THEREOF AND MEANS FORMING A GUIDEWAY FOR THE HANGER STRAP, SAID STRAP BEING RECEIVED IN SAID GUIDEWAY FOR GUIDED VERTICAL RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT, A CAM MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BOSS FOR ROTATABLE MOVEMENT ABOUT ITS CENTER AND HAVING A CAM SLOT THERETHROUGH, AND A COMBINATION CAM FOLLOWER AND LOCKING SCREW THREADEDLY CONNECTED TO THE STRAP AND EXTENDING INTO THE CAM SLOT, SAID BOSS BEING APERTURED TO ACCOMMODATE THE CAM FOLLOWER AND LOCKING SCREW AND THE CAM SLOT BEING FORMED WITH PORTIONS AT VARYING RADIAL DISTANCES FROM THE CENTER OF THE CAM MEMBER SO THAT ROTATION OF THE CAMMING MEMBER CAUSES THE CAM FOLLOWER AND LOCKING SCREW TO BE CAMMED IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION BY THE CAM SLOT TO ADJUST THE VERTICAL POSITION OF THE STRAP AND THE DOOR SUPPORTED THEREBY AND SAID SCREW HAVING AN ENLARGED PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SURFACE OF THE CAM MEMBER ADJACENT THE CAM SLOT TO LOCK THE ASSEMBLY IN ADJUSTED POSITION. 